Title:

Nebraska Drug Threat Assessment

Publication Date: July2003

Document ID: 2003-S0389NE-001

Archived on: January 1, 2006.
This document may contain
dated information. It remains available to provide
access to historical materials.

This report is a strategic assessment that addresses the status and
outlook of the drug threat to Nebraska.
Analytical judgment determined the threat posed by each drug type or
category, taking into account the most current quantitative and
qualitative information on availability, demand, production or
cultivation, transportation, and distribution, as well as the effects of a
particular drug on abusers and society as a whole. While NDIC sought to
incorporate the latest available information, a time lag often exists
between collection and publication of data, particularly demand-related
data sets. NDIC anticipates that this drug threat assessment will be
useful to policymakers, law enforcement personnel, and treatment providers
at the federal, state, and local levels because it draws upon a broad
range of information sources to describe and analyze the drug threat to
Nebraska.

The production, distribution, and abuse of illicit drugs pose a
serious threat to Nebraska. Grand Island, Omaha, Lincoln, and Scottsbluff are
the primary drug distribution cities in the state and also serve as transit
areas for drugs transported to other states.

Methamphetamine is a principal drug threat to Nebraska,
primarily because of the drug's availability and the harmful physical and
environmental effects associated with its abuse and production. Law enforcement
agencies throughout the state report that the level of methamphetamine
availability in their jurisdictions is high. Many also reported the presence of
methamphetamine laboratories in their areas, as well as an adverse environmental
impact from the laboratories. Methamphetamine produced by Mexican criminal
groups in Mexico, California, and southwestern states is the predominant type
available in Nebraska. Methamphetamine produced in the state is also available,
and seizures of small-scale methamphetamine laboratories have increased.
Caucasian local independent producers using the Birch reduction method are the
primary in-state methamphetamine producers. Mexican criminal groups transport
methamphetamine from Mexico, California, and southwestern states into Nebraska
in private and commercial vehicles. These criminal groups also are the primary
wholesale distributors of methamphetamine in Nebraska. Mexican criminal groups,
Caucasian local independent dealers, street gangs, and outlaw motorcycle gangs
distribute retail quantities of methamphetamine from residences, parking lots,
or business establishments. Violence associated with methamphetamine
distribution and abuse is a concern within the state.

Cocaine poses a significant threat to Nebraska because of
its ready availability, highly addictive nature, and association with violent
crime. Powdered cocaine is readily available throughout the state, while crack
cocaine is primarily available in the metropolitan areas of Lincoln and Omaha.
Mexican criminal groups, traveling primarily in private and commercial vehicles,
dominate the transportation of powdered cocaine into Nebraska from Mexico
through California and southwestern states. These criminal groups dominate
wholesale powdered cocaine distribution throughout the state and distribute
powdered cocaine at the retail level as well. Local independent dealers and
street gangs distribute powdered cocaine at the retail level and convert
powdered cocaine into crack for retail distribution at or near its intended
distribution site. Retail-level cocaine distribution commonly is prearranged or
is facilitated by pagers, pay phones, and cellular telephones. Distribution
typically occurs on street corners and at bars or private residences. The
distribution of crack cocaine frequently is associated with violence,
particularly aggravated assault and robbery.

Marijuana is the most widely available and frequently abused
illicit drug in Nebraska. Most of the marijuana available in the state is
produced in Mexico, although some cannabis is cultivated locally. Mexican
criminal groups transport marijuana into Nebraska in private and commercial
vehicles. Mexican criminal groups and, to a lesser extent, local independent
dealers are the primary wholesale and retail marijuana distributors in the
state. Street gangs also distribute marijuana at the retail level. Marijuana
typically is packaged in sandwich bags and distributed at the retail level from
bars, strip clubs, schools, parking lots, residences, businesses, and at
concerts.

Other dangerous drugs (ODDs) Some other dangerous drugs pose
an increasing threat to Nebraska. ODDs include club drugs such as MDMA and GHB
(and its analogs); the hallucinogens LSD, psilocybin, and jimsonweed; and
diverted pharmaceuticals such as codeine, diazepam (Valium), hydrocodone (Lortab
and Vicodin), hydromorphone (Diluadid), methadone, morphine, oxycodone
(OxyContin, Percocet, and Percodan), and propoxyphene (Darvocet). Caucasian
local independent dealers are the primary distributors of club drugs, which are
increasingly available in cities with colleges and universities, and typically
are distributed at raves, nightclubs, and bars. Caucasian local independent
dealers are the primary distributors of hallucinogens and diverted
pharmaceuticals.

Heroin poses a low threat to Nebraska. The availability and
abuse of heroin are decreasing in most areas of the state; however, Mexican
black tar heroin and brown powdered heroin are available in some areas. No
single group dominates the transportation or distribution of heroin in Nebraska;
both Mexican criminal groups and Caucasian local independent dealers transport
the drug into the state. Wholesale distribution rarely occurs in Nebraska. At
the retail level, Mexican criminal groups, local independent dealers, and street
gangs distribute heroin.